Yisrael Beiteinu: Merger with Likud won’t make Lieberman PM

(JTA) — Yisrael Beiteinu has denied reports that party leader Avigdor Lieberman would become prime minister under a secret pact between his movement and Likud.

“There is no pact for rotation in the role of prime minister,” Yisrael Beiteinu chairperson Faina Kirschenbaum told Channel 10 on Thursday.

Her statement was in reaction to an earlier report on Channel 2 by the television station’s senior political commemtator, Amnon Abramovich. He reported that the newly announced merger between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu stipulated that if the merged list wins the elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud would step down midterm and be replaced as premier by Lieberman, who is currently Israel’s foreign minister.

Kirschenbaum added, "Under the new agreement with Likud, Lieberman can choose any portfolio he likes, including that of defense, though it seems to me he enjoys being foreign minister.”